This article reviews how practical work, including practical skills, is currently summatively assessed in school science in a number of countries and makes comparisons with how other subjects, such as music and modern foreign languages, summatively assess skills. Whilst practical skills in school science are clearly valued as being of importance,…

Reported is an evaluation of chemistry syllabuses in Scotland. The development of the curriculum reform movement is briefly sketched, syllabus content described, student reactions and attitudes noted, student performance surveyed, and experimental studies summarized. The author concludes that curriculum developers should be warned against…